Our view: It's time to turn the page

Published 9:00 pm, Thursday, August 1, 2002

What Midland Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Duane Marsh wants sounds reasonable enough  settle the ongoing disputes over tax assessments so that people looking at the city as a possible place to locate a business can see a community where businesses and government work together to solve problems.

Marsh also cited the cost  which amounts to about $17 million so far for Midland taxpayers.

To that end, Marsh has reached out to the entities involved in the dispute but has received a tepid response. "My understanding is that progress is being made, he told a Daily News reporter. "They are interested and all parties would like to find a favorable middle ground."

We, too, would like to see these disputes end. The principals  the City of Midland, The Dow Chemical Co., Dow Corning Corp. and the Midland Cogeneration Venture  also would like to see them end.

It has been a long, drawn out affair, too long for our liking.

The disputes began six years ago when Dow Corning appealed its 1996 assessment. The next year all three companies appealed the 1997 assessments, for various reasons. When the Board of Review denied their appeals in whole or in part, the companies appealed to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

It was at first estimated that the matter would be resolved within three years, but as we have seen, the wheels of government in Lansing turn more slowly than anyone could have imagined, putting all taxing units in Midland County in a legal and financial limbo that continues to this day.

Resolution is needed. Midland is a community that prides itself on teamwork and getting things done. It's time to get this done.